Finnish president sends condolences on Polish president's death

HELSINKI, April 10 (Xinhua) -- President Tarja Halonen expressed condolences on the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash in Smolensk, Russia, on Saturday.

According to a statement by the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland, Halonen had with great sadness received the news of the death of Kaczynski and his spouse in the plane crash.

Halonen extended her deep condolences on behalf of the people of Finland and on her own behalf to the families of the victims and the people of Poland who lost in the accident not only their head of state and his close ones but also many political leaders and high officials.

Halonen also expressed her condolences to the Polish ambassador in Finland.

A chartered plane carrying Kaczynski crashed near the Smolensk airport in western Russia Saturday, killing all 96 people on board.